5

H.—l6.

The amounts of fines in the various districts are as follows :— a Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Hamilton ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (ifl.-j Napier ... ... ... .... ... ... ... 70 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 508 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 Greymouth ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 Dunedin ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 200 . Invercargill ... ... ... ..-. ... ... :..... . 10 Total ... ... .... ... ... ./. £1,632 The direct cost to the Department in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £412, this being £1,220 less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences, There were 239 prosecutions, resulting in 208 convictions, during the year under (he gaming laws, against 257 prosecutions and 216 convictions in 1916. Criminal Registration Branch. During the year the finger-impressions of 2,496 prisoners were received, classified, searched, and filed, and 132 prisoners were identified as previous offenders in this Dominion, Australia, England, &c.; 1,249 photographs were taken by the photographers attached to this branch; the portraits of 1,012 prisoners were dealt with, and 328 photographs of discharged prisoners were reproduced in the Police Gazette. The number of photographs taken during the year shows an increase of over 75 per cent, on last year's figures. They included many exhibits in important Court cases such as copies of letters, etc., in a ease of forgery of a will tit Wellington, and finger-print enlargements in two breaking-and-entering cases at Christchurch. The Police Gazette work shows an increase on the previous year. The Gazette itself has decreased in volume, but this is due to the fact that since the beginning of 1917 Law Reports and War Regulations have not been reprinted in the Gazette, but issued separately. On the 31st March last the finger-print collection consisted of the impressions of 20,982 offenders, being an increase of 1,474 over the previous year. The following table shows the increase of the finger-print collection since the introduction of the finger-print system of identification in March, 1903 : —

Candidates for Force. Seven men were permanently appointed to the Force during the year, their nationalities, religions, and occupations being as follows: —Nationalities: New Zealand, 5; Scotland, 2. Religions: Presbyterian, 5; Roman Catholic, 2. Occupations: Ex-constables', -1-; ex-soldiers, 2; labourer, 1. Police Buildings, etc. The following works in connection with police-stations have been carried out during the year by the Public Works Department:— New buildings erected: Auckland (Central), additions; Wellington (headquarters, Johnston Street). New buildings in course of erection : Wairoa, Oamaru. Site acquired : Lower Hutt. Alterations, improvements, &c, were effected at Hikurangi, Kawakawa, Russell, Whakatane, Tokomaru Bay, Waitara, Whangamomona, Palmerston North, Te Nui, Kilbirnie, Mount Cook, Donniston, Seddonvillc, Nelson, Amberley, Christchurch, Darfield, St. Andrew's, and Ophir.

Year. Number of , Prints Increase on . n ,, , Previous Year. in Collection. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 3,500 3,500 4,200 700 5,000 800 6,151 1,151 7,622 1,471 8,718 1,096 9,919 1,201 10,905 986 12,097 1,192 13,552 1,45515,302 1,750 16,682 | 1,380 18,134 1,452 19,508 1,374 20,982 1,474 117 72 88 ' 104 123 138 140 148 178 183 230 270 218 166 132 •